Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention relates to an isolating decoupler, and more particularly, to an isolating
decoupler having a one-way clutch and an inertia member attached to the hub, all contained
within a pulley width.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Vehicle internal combustion engines typically comprise a front end belt driven accessory
drive. The accessories can include power steering, an alternator, water pump and so
on. The accessory drive can also be referred to as a serpentine drive since the belt
often traces a circuitous path about the front plane of an engine.
[0003] A typical serpentine drive system includes a driving pulley on the crankshaft of
an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, a series of driven pulleys for the accessories
and a poly-V belt trained about the driving and driven pulleys. An advantage of the
serpentine drive is that by providing an automatic belt tensioner on the belt the
accessories can be fixedly mounted.
[0004] It is also known to provide a decoupler assembly between the belt driven accessory
and the pulley to allow the belt driven accessory to operate temporarily at a higher
speed or "overrun" the pulley as the pulley oscillates with the speed of the engine.
[0005] It is known that alternator pulley can contain one-way clutch, resilient member,
or both one-way clutch and resilient member. It is also known that the same approach
can be used for crankshaft pulley. In the latter case not only the alternator inertia
will be isolated from the belt drive but the inertia of all accessories. At the same
time torque requirement is substantially higher as well as challenges for all other
elements of the crankshaft isolator.
[0006] For a crankshaft isolator with no decoupling feature, the spring stiffness is chosen
such that the torsional vibration present at the nose of the crankshaft is attenuated
by its elastic element and prevented this vibration from affecting the ABDS in a negative
manner. Although beneficial during engine operation, the presence of the device on
the crankshaft during start-up and shut down can present challenges. Because the spring
stiffness is such that the first system natural frequency is below idle, during start
up, the engine RPM passes through this natural frequency causing exaggerated relative
motion between the device's pulley and hub. This causes large deformations of the
elastic element and can result in fatigue fractures and catastropic failure. This
failure can be prevented by the use of stop(s) between the pulley and the hub that
limit the travel of the elastic element. However, the stops must be placed and designed
correctly to prevent objectionable noise during the start up phase of engine operation.
[0007] Representative of the art is
US patent 6,044,943 which discloses a crankshaft decoupler that has a mounting hub, a pulley rotatably
mounted on the mounting hub, an annular carrier mounted within said pulley, a biasing
device mounted therebetween, and a one way clutch mounted between the annular carrier
and the pulley. The biasing device cushions the belt drive from crankshaft impulses
and lowers the angular resonant frequency of the belt system. The one way clutch prevents
sudden reversal of the belt tension in the drive due to start/stop of the engine or
sudden deceleration of the engine and prevents momentary reverse slip belt squeal
as a result of the tensioners' inadequate output for the reverse mode. The one way
clutch limits the maximum amount of torque which may be transmitted preventing belt
slippage during momentary overload.
[0008] What is needed is an isolating decoupler having a one-way clutch and an inertia member
attached to the hub, all contained within a pulley width. The present invention meets
this need.
[0009] WO97/31198 discloses a crankshaft pulley assembly comprising (a) a crankshaft pulley including
(i) a pulley body, and (ii) means connecting the pulley body to the crankshaft of
the internal combustion engine, electric motor or other such drive apparatus and connecting
the pulley body to the accessory drive belt for moving the drive belt in a given direction
in response to the rotation of said crankshaft in a particular direction; and (b)
a one-way clutch device carried by and forming part of said connecting means for allowing
said drive belt to move in said given direction at a speed equal to and in excess
of the speed of the crankshaft in said particular direction.
Summary of the Invention
[0010] The primary aspect of the invention is an isolating decoupler having a one-way clutch
and an inertia member attached to the hub, all contained within a pulley width, according
to claim 1 or 4. Other aspects of the invention will be pointed out or made obvious
by the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
[0011] The invention comprises an isolating decoupler comprising a hub, a one-way clutch
engaged with the hub, a pulley rotationally engaged with the hub, a spring operationally
engaged between the one-way clutch and the pulley, and an inertia member engaged with
the hub through an elastomeric member, the inertia member substantially disposed within
a width of the pulley, the inertia member moveable independently of the pulley.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification,
illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with a description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the device.
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the device.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional exploded view of the device.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0013] Figure 1 is a cross-section of the device. The isolating decoupler comprises a hub
10. Hub 10 can be mounted to a shaft such as a crankshaft or driven accessory shaft
(not shown).
[0014] A one-way clutch 20 is mounted to the hub 10. One-way clutch 20 is typically press
fit onto the clutch carrier 30. The clutch 20 engages a hub 10.
[0015] A first end 41 of torsion spring 40 is connected to clutch carrier 30. The second
end 42 of torsion spring 40 is connected to a pulley support member 50.
[0016] Pulley 70 is mounted to pulley support 50 and pulley support 60. Pulley 70 comprises
a belt engaging surface 71.
[0017] Elastomeric ring 80 is connected to hub 10. Inertia ring 90 is connected to elastomeric
ring 80. The inertia ring combined with the elastomeric ring damp crankshaft oscillations
and vibrations caused during engine operation. Elastomeric ring 80 is securely fixed
between inertia ring 90 and hub 10 using known adhesives, or mechanical, or press
fit.
[0018] Pulley assembly 50, 60, 70 is rotationally moveable with respect to hub 10 on each
bearing 110, 120. Inertia ring 90 moves independently of the pulley assembly 50, 60,
70.
[0019] Bearings 110, 120 may comprise ball bearings or any other suitable bearing known
in the art.
[0020] All components of the device are contained within an envelope axially defined by
the pulley support 50 and pulley support 60, and radially defined by the pulley 70.
[0021] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the device. A plane P2 intersects the circumference
of the inertia ring 90. A plane P1 intersects the circumference of the pulley 70.
In the assembled device plane P1 is coplanar with plane P2, hence, inertia ring 90
is radially aligned with pulley 70 with respect to axis of rotation A-A. Spring 40
is contained within an axial length of the hub 10 between each pulley support 50 and
pulley support 60.
[0022] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional exploded view of the device. Spring 40, one-way clutch
20 and clutch carrier 30 are each contained within receiving portion 11 of hub 10.
Elastomeric ring 80 is engaged with hub outer member 12.
[0023] In operation the inertia member 90 and elastomeric ring 80 absorb and damp crankshaft
torsional vibrations, thereby preventing the vibrations from applying high loads to
the crankshaft and or affecting the belt drive system. The one-way clutch decoupler
feature allows high inertia components of the belt drive system to temporarily "overrun"
the crankshaft during periods of rapid engine deceleration. The device combines the
decoupling feature and the isolator feature into a compact package which can be used
on an engine crankshaft in confined spaces.
[0024] Although a form of the invention has been described herein, it will be obvious to
those skilled in the art that variations may be made in the construction and relation
of parts without departing from the scope of the invention described in the claims.
1. An isolating decoupler comprising:
a hub (10);
a one-way clutch (20) engaged with the hub;
a pulley (70) rotationally engaged with the hub on a first ball bearing(110) and a
second ball bearing (120);
a spring (40) operationally engaged between the one-way clutch and the pulley; and
an inertia member (90) engaged with the hub through an elastomeric member (80), the
inertia member disposed within an envelope comprising the pulley (70) and a first
pulley support (50) engaged with the first ball bearing (110) and a second pulley
support (60) engaged with the second ball bearing (120), the inertia member moveable
independently of the pulley.
2. The isolating decoupler as in claim 1 further comprising a carrier member disposed
between the spring and the one-way clutch.
3. The isolating decoupler as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the inertia member is substantially
coplanar with the pulley.
4. An isolating decoupler comprising:
a hub;
a one-way clutch engaged with the hub;
a pulley rotationally engaged with the hub through a first pulley support and a second
pulley support;
a spring operationally engaged between the one-way clutch and the first pulley support;
a carrier member disposed between the spring and the one-way clutch; and
an inertia member engaged with the hub through an elastomeric member, the inertia
member substantially disposed within a width of the pulley and the inertia member
is substantially coplanar with the pulley, the inertia member moveable independently
of the pulley.
5. The isolating decoupler as in claim 4, further comprising a first ball bearing between
the hub and the first pulley support and a second ball bearing between the hub and
the second pulley support.
1. Isolatorentkoppler, der Folgendes umfasst:
eine Nabe (10);
eine Freilaufkupplung (20), die mit der Nabe in Eingriff steht;
eine Riemenscheibe (70), die mit der Nabe an einem ersten Kugellager (110) und einem
zweiten Kugellager (120) in Dreheingriff steht;
eine Feder (40), die zwischen der Freilaufkupplung und der Riemenscheibe in Wirkeingriff
steht; und
ein Trägheitsglied (90), das durch ein elastomeres Glied (80) mit der Nabe in Eingriff
steht, wobei das Trägheitsglied in einem Gehäuse angeordnet ist, das die Riemenscheibe
(70) und eine erste Riemenscheibenstütze (50) im Eingriff mit dem ersten Kugellager
(110) und eine zweite Riemenscheibenstütze (60) im Eingriff mit dem zweiten Kugellager
(120) umfasst, wobei das Trägheitsglied unabhängig von der Riemenscheibe bewegbar
ist.
2. Isolatorentkoppler nach Anspruch 1, der ferner ein Trägerglied umfasst, das zwischen
der Feder und der Freilaufkupplung angeordnet ist.
3. Isolatorentkoppler nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, wobei das Trägheitsglied mit der
Riemenscheibe im Wesentlichen koplanar ist.
4. Isolatorentkoppler, der Folgendes umfasst:
eine Nabe;
eine Freilaufkupplung, die mit der Nabe in Eingriff steht;
eine Riemenscheibe, die mit der Nabe durch eine erste Riemenscheibenstütze und eine
zweite Riemenscheibenstütze in Dreheingriff steht;
eine Feder, die zwischen der Freilaufkupplung und der ersten Riemenscheibenstütze
in Wirkeingriff steht;
ein Trägerglied, das zwischen der Feder und der Freilaufkupplung angeordnet ist; und
ein Trägheitsglied, das durch ein elastomeres Glied mit der Nabe in Eingriff steht,
wobei das Trägheitsglied im Wesentlichen innerhalb einer Breite der Riemenscheibe
angeordnet ist und das Trägheitsglied mit der Riemenscheibe im Wesentlichen koplanar
ist, wobei das Trägheitsglied unabhängig von der Riemenscheibe bewegbar ist.
5. Isolatorentkoppler nach Anspruch 4, der ferner ein erstes Kugellager zwischen der
Nabe und der ersten Riemenscheibenstütze und ein zweites Kugellager zwischen der Nabe
und der zweiten Riemenscheibenstütze umfasst.
1. Organe de découplage isolant, comprenant :
un moyeu (10) ;
un embrayage unidirectionnel (20) en prise avec le moyeu ;
une poulie (70) en prise rotative avec le moyeu sur un premier roulement à billes
(110) et un deuxième roulement à billes (120) ;
un ressort (40) en prise fonctionnelle entre l'embrayage unidirectionnel et la poulie
; et
un organe d'inertie (90) en prise avec le moyeu par le biais d'un organe élastomère
(80), l'organe d'inertie étant disposé à l'intérieur d'une enveloppe comprenant la
poulie (70) et un premier support de poulie (50) en prise avec le premier roulement
à billes (110) et un deuxième support de poulie (60) en prise avec le deuxième roulement
à billes (120), l'organe d'inertie pouvant être déplacé indépendamment de la poulie.
2. Organe de découplage isolant selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un organe
de support disposé entre le ressort et l'embrayage unidirectionnel.
3. Organe de découplage isolant selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans
lequel l'organe d'inertie est sensiblement coplanaire avec la poulie.
4. Organe de découplage isolant comprenant :
un moyeu ;
un embrayage unidirectionnel en prise avec le moyeu ;
une poulie en prise rotative avec le moyeu par le biais d'un premier support de poulie
et d'un deuxième support de poulie ;
un ressort en prise fonctionnelle entre l'embrayage unidirectionnel et le premier
support de poulie ;
un organe de support disposé entre le ressort et l'embrayage unidirectionnel ; et
un organe d'inertie en prise avec le moyeu par le biais d'un organe élastomère, l'organe
d'inertie étant disposé sensiblement à l'intérieur d'une largeur de la poulie et l'organe
d'inertie étant sensiblement coplanaire avec la poulie, l'organe d'inertie pouvant
être déplacé indépendamment de la poulie.
5. Organe de découplage isolant selon la revendication 4, comprenant en outre un premier
roulement à billes entre le moyeu et le premier support de poulie et un deuxième roulement
à billes entre le moyeu et le deuxième support de poulie.